Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 37590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37590 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
That had been three years ago, only coming back for each and every holiday, and then, she made a point of staying close to home or taking out her need to run into the forest. She always knew when he was near, and she’d run far away, or she hid in the house—she really didn’t care, so long as she never saw his face again.
“We’re here, miss,” the cab driver said. She’d arranged to have a cab waiting for her at the train station.
The last time she’d waited for her parents to arrive, Lucas had arrived, and well, she hadn’t gone in his truck to get home and opted to walk out in whatever condition it had been in at the time. Now, she didn’t tell her parents what time her train was coming in, instead, organizing a cab ready.
She paid the driver, giving him a generous tip as she grabbed her suitcase and climbed out of the car, looking up at her childhood home.
The majority of the pack lived in their small town. There were a few civilians who didn’t know what they were, but that was because after years of hiding, they’d grown adept at conducting their business without anyone knowing. Most of the humans lived in the center of town.
Her parents owned an old ranch they’d converted into a home. The many acres of forest were used for their own amusement.
Like all Alphas, the Nauls owned the biggest piece of property within the town and their names were on most of the businesses and places.
She didn’t mind.
Duke Naul was a great Alpha. He’d really invested his time and expertise into the pack. It was a shame about his son.
She stepped up the steps and went to the door, finding it already open.
“Mom, Dad, I’m home.” She put her case down and removed her jacket. It seemed a month’s worth of snowfall had fallen overnight. It was freezing. Fortunately, her body ran a lot hotter than most humans, so she had to disguise her comfort in extremely cold weather.
She put her jacket on the coat stand and looked up as her mother, Eliza, came around the corner.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Oh, honey, I’ve missed you.”
She hugged her mother close and frowned, pulling back. Then she looked at her mother and took in the clenched hands, the nerves. “What’s going on?”
Her father, Gary, chose that moment to come behind his wife. He wrapped his arm around her and she couldn’t help but smile. Her parents’ mating had been so sweet. For the most part, it was the talk of the town. They loved each other so very much.
Unfortunately, they’d only been given the opportunity to have one child, her. After she was born, there had been too much damage, and according to doctors, her mother hadn’t been able to have any more children.
“We need you to keep an open mind, okay?” Gary asked.
“Sure. You’re both kind of scaring me. I’d thought you’d be happy to see me.” She looked between her parents.
“We are happy to see you.” Eliza grabbed her hand, and before she knew what was happening, she was being moved into the sitting room, and everything became clear.
Lucas stood there. Beside him was his father.
This was a first.
She pushed some of her hair back and quickly bowed her head to the Alpha, showing him the respect he was due.
“It’s good to see you home and well, Mabel.”
“I don’t understand what’s going on.”
Lucas continued to stare at her. Even as she hated him, she couldn’t deny the pull she had to be closer to him. Her traitorous little wolf wanted to be as close to him as was humanly possible, or even wolfly possible. She didn’t know. Either way, she wasn’t going to get close to this … man.
Since she’d seen him last, he’d grown a lot taller, more handsome in a ruggedly rough kind of way. It was why the girls at school loved him, and yes, he’d enjoyed the many pleasures they offered, or so the rumors were to be believed.
“Please, take a seat,” Duke said.
It was on the tip of her tongue to refuse, but no one ever refused the Alpha.
She sat down on the edge of one of the chairs as her parents took the remaining seats.
“We’re here as a … necessity,” Duke said. “We all understand your reservations to officially mate with my son, but this cannot continue any longer.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear and stared down at the floor, gritting her teeth.
“You and Lucas recognized the mating.”
She lifted her head up as he continued.
“And this prolonged absence is no longer acceptable.”
“Dad, don’t,” Lucas said.
“Acceptable?” She laughed. “I don’t recognize any mating with your son. Is it there, yes, but I refuse to fall a victim to it.”
“Mabel, there is no denying the mating heat.”